Electric switch and locking means therefor.



R. H. 'VIGKERS.

BLEOTBIGSWITOH AND LOCKING MEANS THEREFOR.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 3, 1913.

Patented Feb. 3, 1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

lwoemoa R. H. VICKBRS. ELECTRIC SWITCH AND LOCKING MEANS THEREFOR.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 3, 1913. 1,086,249.

Patented Feb. 3, 1914.

2 BHEETB-SHEET 2.

um/Mo's fay V/o/ce'zut a: sans ELECTRIC SWITCH AND LOCKING MEANS THEREFOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

' Patented Feb. 3, 1914.

Application filed January 3, 1913. Serial No. 740,0?0.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ROY H. Vronnns, a citizen of the United States, residing at Fayetteville, in the county of Washington and State of Arkansas, have invented certain hew and useful Improvements'in Electric Switches and Looking Means Therefor, of which the following is a specification.

This invention comprehends improvements in electric switches and locking means therefor and relatesmore particularly to improvements over my allowed application, Serial No. 699,999, filed May 27, 1912, and allowed Aug. 17, 1912.

One of the objects of the invention resides in the provision of novel locking means for switches of this type, said means including a spring-pressed ball or balls adapted to seat within a recess or recesses formed in-the plunger.

The invention also aims to generally improve devices of this nature to render them more useful, eliicient and commercially desirable.

With these and other objects in view, as

will become more apparent as the descrip-- tion proceeds, the invention consists in certain novel features of construction, combination, and arrangement of parts, as will be hereinafter described and claimed.

For a complete understanding of my invention, reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of my inven- J tion, showing the same supporting an incandescent bulb and having its casing in section, Figs. 2 and 3 are sectional views taken upon the planes of lines 22 and 33, respectively, of Fig. 1, Fig. 4 is a bottom plan view of my invention, Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken upon the plane of line 5-5 of Fig. 1, Figs. 6 and 7 are plan views of the opposed faces of the top and bottom sections, respectively, of the plug, Fig. 8 is a longitudinal sectional view through my invention, the casing being removed, Fig. 9 is a sectional view taken on a plane at right angles to Fig. 8, Fig. 10 is a side elevation,

partly in section, of a modified form adapted for use independent of an incandescent light, Fig. 11 is a sectional view through the modification, Fig. 12 is a sectional View taken upon a plane at right angles to Fig. 11, and Fig. 13 is a top plan view of the modification with'the casing removed.

Referring in detail to the drawings by numerals, 10 designates a shell casing in .which is positioned a cylindrical plug comprising the upper cylindrical section 11 and the lower cylindrical section 12. The sections are formed upon their opposed faces with registering transverse slots in which a plunger 13 is mounted for reciprocation. The plunger is formed with a longitudinal slot 14 extending transversely therethrough. In one end of the slot 14 a contact member 15 is mounted, said contact member being bent back upon itself to form leaves, as clearly shown in Fig. 3.

An angular contact strip 16 is secured to the upper section 11 of the plug and projects downwardly into the slot 14 for contact with the bent plate 15. A metallic plate 17 is secured to the bottom section 12 and extends upwardly into the slot 14 but terminates in spaced relationship to the plate 16. A metallic socket 18 is secured to the section 12 by means of a conducting screw 19 engaging a sleeve 20, which latter is held within the section 11. The current conducting wires 21 and 22 are connected to the sleeve 20 and plate 16, respectively. A lamp .2?) is adapted to screw within the socket 18 v and contact with the spring plate 24 formed :upon the section 12.

\Vhen the plunger is in the position shown fin Fig. 8, current may flow in through the wire 22, through the lamp 23 and out the wire 21.

To lockthe plunger 13 at its extremity of *movement in either direction, I provide the balls 25 and 26, which are positioned within *recesscs 27 formed in the opposed faces of the plug sections 11 and 12. The plunger is formed with the recesses 28 and the coun= tor-sinks 29 to receive ortions of the balls when they are forced t erein by the agency.

and 32 is positioned within the casing 33.

The sections 31 and 32 are formed upon their opposed faces with transverse slots in which a plunger 34 is mounted for reciprocation. The plunger is constructed essentially similar to the plunger 13 heretofore described. The sections 31 and 32, are formed upon their peripheries with the coinciding recesses 35 and 36. In the former of said recesses a U-shaped conducting plate 37 is mounted and is retained by means of the screws 38 and 39.. A setscrew 40 secures a wire 41 to the U-shaped plam. An

angular conducting strip 42 is seated within a recess within the top of the plug and extends inwardly through the slot in the plunger, said plate being secured in position by the screw 39.-- A similar plate 43 is secured to the bottom section of the plug by the bolt 44:, said bolt connecting the same to a curved conducting plate 45 positioned within the re cesses 36. A set screw 46 secures a wire 47 to said last mentioned conducting plate.

When the plunger 34 is moved to close the circuit, current may flow through the wire 41, the U-shaped plate 37, the conducting strips 42 and 44:, the curved conductingplate 15 and out through the wireA'Z. The periphery of the upper plug section 31 is grooved, as at 48, to receive the wires.

The plunger 34 is locked against movement by a ball 49, seated within a recess 50 or countersink 51, formed in said plunger. The ball works within a pocket 52 formed in the upper plug section 31. and is forced normally into engagement with the plunger by means of a spiral spring 53.

From the foregoing description in connection with the accompanying drawings, it, will be seen that I have. provided an improved switch and modification thereof and improved locking means for said switch and modification.

It is to be understood that while I have shown and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, I do not wish to be limited to these exact constructions, combinations, and arrangements of parts, but may make such changes as will fall within the spirit and scope of the invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. A switch of the character described, including a transversely slotted plug, said plug being formed with recesses opening into said slot, a circuit closing plunger slidable mamas within said slot, and means seated within said recesses for locking engagement with the plunger.

2. A switch of the character described, including a transversely slotted plug, said plug being formed with recesses opening into said slot, a circuit closing plunger slidable with in said slot, the plunger being formed with ball receiving recesses, balls positioned within said first'mentioned recesses, and means for forcing said balls into the second mentioned recesses, whereby the plunger is locked against movement.

3. In a switch of the character described, the combination with a plug having a transverse slot extending therethrough and cy lindrical recesses opening into said slot, of a plunger mounted for reciprocation within the slot, the plunger being formed with ball receiving recesses, balls positioned within said first mentioned recesses, and spiral expansive springs adapted to force said balls within said second mentioned recesses to lock the plunger against movement.

4. An electric switch comprising a transversely slotted plug, said plug being also formed upon its periphery with recesses, angular contact plates secured to the ends of the plug and projecting within said slot, a plunger slidable within said slot to contact with said angular plates, conducting plates positioned within said recesses and connected to said angular plates, and means for connecting wires to said conducting plates.

5. An electric switch comprising a transversely slotted plug, angular contact strips secured to the ends of said plug and projecting into said slot, the plug being formed upon its periphery with recesses, a U-shaped conducting member positioned within one of the recesses, a screw connecting said conducting member with one of the contact strips, a second conducting member positioned within the other recess and connected to the other contact strip, binding screws adapted to connect wires to said conducting members, and a plunger slidable within said slot to close the circuit.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my Signature in presence of two witnesses.

ROY H. VICKERS. 

